Hello, my name is Bethany Bates and I am currently finishing my junior year in nursing at the University of North Dakota and have really enjoyed being on the Lacnet listserve. I have learned a wealth of knowledge about breastfeeding. I was looking through the Journal of Human Lactation and found some information on how the attitudes of professionals regarding breastfeeding affect the breastfeeding mother. I would think that professionals who were educated about breastfeeding would have a positive attitude and want to support and encourage more moms to breastfeed their infants. I found, however, that even though nurses had attended a one and a half hour education session designed to increase breastfeeding rates, create positive beliefs and attitudes among the staff, that it did increase breastfeeding rates and create positive beliefs but the attitudes of the staff had no change (Martens, 2000). I found this very surprising that even though the staff was educated there was not a positive increase in their attitudes regarding breastfeeding. There was no change at all. The biggest indicator of whether or not the mother would be properly supported, encouraged and educated depended upon the level of education, and the attitude the nurse had about breastfeeding (Bernaix, 2000). Another study focused on WIC employees and what influenced their support of the breastfeeding mom. They found that the more educated the staff was, the more likely they were to support and have a more positive attitude toward breastfeeding and encourage mothers to breastfeeding (Beshgetoor, Larson, LaMaster, 1999). I think we have a really great educational background regarding the breastfeeding basics here at UND. I was wondering if hospitals do have mandatory sessions for those who do work with the breastfeeding populations and how this has helped or not helped? I realize I am amongst professionals who are probably very educated but just wondered about some of the observations that you have had? Thanks much and have really enjoyed all of the information I have gained here at Lacnet. Bethany Bates, Student Nurse University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND Bernaix, L. W. (2000). Nurses* attitudes, subjective norms, and behavioral intentions toward support of breastfeeding mothers. Journal of Human Lactation, 16(3), 201-290. Beshgetorr, D., Larson, S. N., LaMaster, K. (1999). Attitudes toward breast-feeding among WIC employees in San Diego County. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 99(1), 86-88. Martens, P. J. (2000). Does breastfeeding education affect nursing staff beliefs, exclusive breastfeeding rates, and baby-friendly hospital initiative compliance? The experience of a small, rural Canadian hospital. Journal of Human Lactation, 16(4), 309-318. *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html